Nacion kicks off in Mexico and beyond

Monday, we celebrate the expansion of Nación ESPN, the first Spanish-language program to be produced from ESPN’s studios in Los Angeles. The show has been generating a great following since its launch in the U.S in February 2010.

Now the show also will air in more than 10 countries including Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, to name a few.

Inspired by ESPN’s Emmy-Award winning SportsNation, the concept of Nacion ESPN was developed by coordinating producer Ignacio Garcia who adapted the show to meet the Hispanic market needs.

It is the first of its kind in the Hispanic market to cater to the voice of the Hispanic sports fan by uniquely incorporating multiple platforms reaching the sports fan on many levels via various social media outlets, online and mobile text messaging, weaving into the program viewers incoming comments and opinions.

Supervising director Dave Festa worked hand-in-hand taking the lead on the technology and the look of the show.

The voices remain those who have been involved with Nacion ESPN from the start: David Faitelson (pictured at right, above), the internationally recognized, renowned sports journalist; and Adriana Monsalve (left) an engaging, charismatic and versatile anchor who was best known as the Spanish-language female face and voice of SportsCenter.

Said Faitelson: We are very happy and looking forward to the debut of Nacion ESPN in Latin America. I believe that our audience will be fascinated by this new concept in television. The opportunity to expand our horizon and give the viewers the chance to directly participate in the topics discussed during the show, is an innovative nd unique initiative that for sure will attract many fans.

“We are convinced that from Mexico to the rest of the countries, every fan will enjoy Nacion ESPN. [Monday] we are debuting the show with special guest Jorge Vergara and his wife, the owners of the popular Mexican team, Chivas de Guadalajara. In addition we will have interviews with some of the players from the winning team of the Mexican First Division.”

The results have been astonishing, a recipe that combined two of the top sports reporters coupled with a little Latin atmosphere and some downtown L.A. scenes on the set. The producers also added some very interesting content elements to the show such as a web wall, a virtual results desk to a fun, gigantic touch screen designed for the guests to compete in friendly poll-games with the hosts.

Said Garcia: “It gave us enormous pleasure to hear that Nacion ESPN will be expanding outside of the U.S. We will be providing viewers in Latin America the opportunity to view the show while generating additional opportunities for the station.”